www.mybaycity.com September 25, 2012
Rotary Article 7429

Mazzeo Talks To Rotary About GM Powertrain

September 25, 2012
By: Stephen Kent



Joseph M. Mazzeo
Joe Mazzeo, Plant Manager at Bay City's GM Powertrain spoke to Rotary about the company's model for manufacturing. He started with a short video from years ago showing manual forging of parts in fire and smoke in huge factories manned by hundreds of men.

Today's vision is to "Design, Build and Sell the World's Best Vehicles", with emphasis on Build at Powertrain. After $7.3 billion in US investment, the company reported 2011 as the most profitable in the company's history. They have created or retained 18,600 jobs.

With an eye to building the world's best vehicles, GM has reduced complexity by going from 30 vehicle bodies to just 14 by 2018. It will also reduce the number of engine platforms. While doing this, Powertrain has shown a 16% increase in workforce since April 2011.

Powertrain's production of piston pins, connecting rods, camshafts, oil pumps, and balance shafts accounts for a bit over $19 million a year. This in a 1 million square foot facility.

Mazzeo illustrated the firms attention to quality by talking about tolerance measurements in microns. A micron, he said, is point 000039 of an inch where a human hair measures point 0035 of an inch.

GM today follows a Global Manufacturing System (GMS). Mazzeo talked about the five GMS elements of continuous improvement, standardization, short lead times, build-in-quality, and people involvement. He stressed that the old management formula with top management being most important has flipped upside down and now finds the operators, or "team members" at the top and leadership at the bottom.

He went on to say that GMS applies to more than just manufacturing. It can be applied to any business or industry and that GM has helped businesses of all types and sized to implement the ideas.



CLUB NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS



The Club held one its two off site meetings at the Bay City Country Club
Thanks to Rotarian Wendy Dore for arranging to host the meeting.



International Night is almost here. Keep October 11 open for this premier event of the year. Lee Newton and Brenda Rowley both talked about the event and some of the great auction items. Be sure your team has auction items too. Check the club's International Night web page for teams and other information.

The district is still looking for a Rotarian to act as GSE Team Leader for the Group Study Exchange team that will go to South Korea March 29 to April 30, 2013. This is a great opportunity. If you're available and interested, please contact Kim as soon as possible!

Bob Chadwick reminded the club of the Foundation Gala to be held in Frankenmuth October 26. The Club will have a table if there enough members so let Bob or Kim know if you plan to attend.

In "honor" of the NFL officiating fiasco last night, Sgt. At Arms Jenna asked the color of the official's flags prior to 1965. The answer was white because white could be seen well on black and white TV.

Remember to contribute to the clean water campaign and contest:
Put SILVER in OUR JUG --- PUT BILLS (and checks) in the MORNING JUG



DATES TO REMEMBER


The Annual Golf Outing will be held September 17. See the announcement and info page at RotaryBayCity.org or see Tim Holsworth for details.

International Night, Sea to Shining Sea, is scheduled for October 11, 2012.


Upcoming Programs

(See the official schedule at RotaryBayCity.org )

Oct 2, 2012: Jeff Mayes will talk about Renewable Energy Ballot Proposal

Oct 9, 2012: Pam Clark will talk about Delta College Foundation

Oct 16, 2012: Alice Gerard will talk about McLaren Bay Region Hospitals.

Oct 23, 2012: Club General Assembly




Rotary is an intimate affiliation of carefully selected business and professional people,
having as its objective the promotion of high ethical standards in private, commercial
and civic life, and dedicated to the ideal that the basis of all worthy endeavor is unselfish service.




Current and past DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.

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LINKS

RotaryBayCity.org BayCityMorningRotary.com
District 6310 Web Site District Dispatch Archive
Rotary International Make-up On-Line at RotaryEclubOne.org
The Rotary Global History Fellowship rotaryfirst100.org
Rotary Global History.


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